Sad news reaches us of very grave distress in the Weihaiwei territory. At a careful estimate some 2,000 families of the poorest class, comprising in all some eight to 10 thousand people, are in danger of actual starvation, unless speedy relief can be given' them. With these, great want undoubtedly prevails among the middle classes, though here it is difficult to ascertain exact figures, as the people in question hesitate to disclose their condition for fear of loss of face.
The district worst affected is that which lies southwards of Port Edward between the sea coast and the regions of Changfeng, Wenchuantang and Peikou. But the districts along the Chefoo road are also badly hit, in fact it would appear that no part of the Territory has escaped, For three summers past, visitors have rejoiced in glorious sunshine. But what was delight to them was misery to others. Harvests were continuously bad; that of last year appears to have been specially poor, and in the sea coast district the average yield of maize was about one bushel to 10 mow of land.
In every village there are at all times at least four or five desperately poor families who depend on support by relatives. Such help is now, perforce, cut off and the poorest people have to subsist as best they can on a composition of a tiny quantity of grain, pounded corn cobs, sweet potato runners, and groundnut—shells. We have seen a specimen of this food which looks more like compressed tobacco dust than anything. It is a mystery how anybody can live on, or even eat it.
The middle classes, normally well enough off, have a very little grain, but they are obliged to mix with it the compound just mentioned. They have heroically made no complaint, and their condition was generally quite unknown, until direct investigation was made, as they feared to lose face by confessing to what they were eating. Their hope was to carry on until the weeds grow and until the wheat should be high enough to borrow money on it.
For this latter class an advance of grain, seeds and beancake until after the autumn crops would probably suffice. There is no question but that they need it. The poorest, estimated as said above at between 8,000 and 10,000, must simply be fed for the next four months.
It need hardly be said that the Government of the Territory is taking active measures to help all these unhappy people. A_ careful investigation has been made of the numbers of the destitute, and of the best means of helping them, and. that help will be provided as swiftly and effectively as it can be.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.